Edward Rasiulis

Bonny Doon Beeswax Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc 2008, Arroyo Seco, Central Coast

Medium gold in colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes of Verbena, lemon oil, honeysuckle, beeswax, apricots, peach, almonds, ripe pear, cantaloupe & shale. There is some oak but it’s well integrated. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: High Alcohol. Interesting Things: This winery is biodynamic & I like the traditional old world wine label.

Drink now on its own or pair it with raw oysters in a honey-ginger vinegrette.

Tasted: 4 Feb 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Ravenswood Single Vineyard Belloni Zinfandel 2008, Russian River Valley

Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: This is not a jammy Zin that you only taste prunes. This wine is well balanced showing notes of raisins, dark cherry, plums, tobacco leaves, raspberry, blackberry & lots of spice. The nose has a nice smokey note that reminds me of chimney smoke from wood burning in a cold winter's night. Medium body with medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the 15% alcohol.

Interesting Note: Taste more like a Washington Syrah than a Zin. Drink on its own or pair it with T-bone steak. Drinkable now or over the next 3 years. Decant for an hour & you'll be rewarded with a smoother taste.

Tasted: 13 Mar 12

Score: 9+/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Luca Laborde Double Select Syrah 2009, Uco Valley, Mendoza

Opaque ruby with a purple tinge in colour with a medium intense nose.

A solid Syrah for under $25

Positives: This wine features cedar, dark cherry, plums, black and red peppers, sage, thyme, cloves, cinnamon and some menthol on the finish. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: There’s some heat coming from this wine that I suspect may be higher alcohol than the stated 14%.

Interesting Point: The wine comes from Syrah vines from France over a century ago.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Patagonian Lomo Asado

Tasted: 20 Nov 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

Perrin & Fils Tavel Rosé 2010, Ac

Bright pomegranate in colour with a medium nose.

Positives: Classic Tavel with strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit & raspberries. The taste is refreshing with good acidity, medium minus body & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Serve it in a Viognier/Chardonnay glass.

Drink now on its own or pair it with roasted chicken.

Tasted: 27 Nov 11

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (sale price of $14.05, 10/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Descendientes De J. Palacios Pétalos 2009, Do Bierzo

Medium to medium+ ruby in colour with medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Earthy wine featuring mushrooms, twigs, leather, plums, dried foliage, tobacco leaves, sage, blackberries, wild berries, oak & cherry cough syrup. Medium to medium+ body & tannins with good acidity, extremely long length & the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: Not sure about the cherry cough syrup notes.

Drink now or for the next 5 years on its own or with rack of lamb.

Tasted: 8 Feb 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

Emiliana Winemaker's Selection Syrah 2009, La Quebrada, Casablanca Valley

Not impressed. Nothing negative, but nothing positive. That was what I thought when I first opened it 18 Aug 2011. I put the cork in the bottle & decided to open it the next day. The nose was like wooden fire in a clear cold snowy night with cherry kirsh, cola, blackberry, raspberry tea & chocolate mocha. The taste was just as good. It went from a score of 7/10 to 9+/10. Value: 9/10, Total: 18+/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

Esporão Tinto Reserva 2008, Alentejo

Deep purple to ruby in colour with a medium minus intensity on the nose.

Positives: Notes on the nose are mushrooms, light oak, raspberry, blueberry & cherry. The taste is smooth showing plums, blueberry, sandalwood & rosemary. The wine is medium body, medium tannins with medium+ acidity & length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Nothing really wows me on this one.

Tasted: 21 Nov 11.

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 6/10, Total: 14.5/20

Loan Wines Special Reserve Semillon 2005, Unoaked, Barossa Valley, South Australia

A good alternative to a Chard, but it will only please the discerning

Description: Bright yellow gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This unoaked wine features bees wax, tangerine, orange rind, lemon tart, golden apple and grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity and a very long length (The flavour was still in my mouth after 5 min).

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: Found it was best in the Viognier glassware.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with conch ceviche.

Tasted: 7 Aug 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Walla Walla Valley

A quality cab with some kick to it

Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium intense nose. This wine features cedar, dark and sour cherries, plums, red currents, thyme, cassis, turmeric, graphite, Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, peppers and leather. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Same wine sells for $45 at the winery

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Pan-Roasted Veal Chops with Cabernet Sauce.

Tasted: 27 Nov 2014

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Sale price 9.5/10), Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Gloria Ferrer Chardonnay 2011, Carneros, Sonoma County

A delightful, balanced, good quality Carneros Chard for under $25 & under 14% alcohol

Description: Bright light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features medium toast, lemon rind, oak spice, Anjou pear, green apple, peach, clove, nutmeg, pink grapefruit, vanilla bean and a touch of caramel. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Recommended serving temperature is 12-16 C or 54-61 F

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Olive Leaf Pasta with Nutmeg Cream Sauce.

Tasted: 31 March 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9+/10 (Clearance Price: 9.5+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+